LETTERS: Both sides not equally at fault in BISD mess; support Special Olympians this Saturday

By Enterprise editorial staff

Published 12:45 pm, Tuesday, September 24, 2013

DIFFERENCE IS CLEAR

Sunday's editorial, "BISD must shift from courtroom to classroom," is off the mark. The lawsuits of recent years have not been proactive; they have been reactive, attempting to get the board members to actually follow the law. Your suggestion that the "legal bickering" is an "annoyance" indicates that you need to learn the history and origin of these lawsuits that are being brought by lawyers working pro bono, while the BISD lawyers are costing the school district millions of dollars that could be better spent on the students.

The instant lawsuit is an effort to prevent the BISD from cancelling an election illegally because they did not like the way the law reads regarding the selection of candidates for that election. I hope you will research this point for yourself.

What is "unfair to the taxpayers" is the gross mismanagement by the school board and some of the administrators, diverting millions of tax dollars from the students to an undetermined end.

Regarding Judge Donald Floyd's decision, the appeals court has already ruled, so the BISD knows what awaits them if they appeal. If Floyd is smart, he will rule, Solomon-like, exactly as the appeals court has ruled.

This Saturday, people around the world will celebrate the Fourth Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day), honoring the inspiration, impact and indomitable spirit of the founder of the Special Olympics movement.

EKS Day is an annual celebration of the life of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and a global call for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with people with intellectual disabilities. Eunice Kennedy Shriver's actions helped open the minds and hearts of all people to the gifts and talents of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

As the founder of Special Olympics, she demonstrated that one person could make a difference and change the world. She certainly did just that.

Today, Special Olympics has a presence in more than 170 countries, and serves nearly 4 million athletes worldwide. More than 44,500 of those athletes are right here in Texas!

Please join us in celebrating this remarkable woman's legacy, not just on Sept. 28, but every day. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are members of our communities and they can make wonderful contributions to society. Please commit acts of unity and inclusion with our Special Olympics athletes and become an agent of acceptance and action throughout the world.